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Whiskey and Wine	By : RandiLynne Category: Final Fantasy VII > Het - Male/Female Views: 1132 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Chance
- 2-One Busy Sunday
- 1
- 2
The exterior of the forsaken church whispered
doctrinal chants of ancient study, though the pews had long been empty. The
haunting air that stirred beneath the ponderous wooden doors sent the skeletons
of leaves scratching across the edge of retribution. Menacing grey clouds
threatened to spill precious drops of rain onto the streets of a broken city.
In the distance, the lightning flashed with the audible roll of thunder. The
alleys and passages near the old rubble stood utterly deserted, and with much trepidation
the two men approached from open streets.
Black
suits meant business and that provided the exact reasoning for which Rude found
himself on the threshold of a daunting task. After Reno had single handedly
sent Cloud Strife running, Rufus received a visit from a silver haired boy with
too much moxie and a death wish. The boy, known as Kadaj, thought it
intelligent to drop the blood stained identification cards of Tseng and Elena
at Rufus� feet. Now the orders were paramount; find Strife and recover any
information about these three delinquent boys.
Reno and
Rude had searched every other place, save for this old church. A place held
sacred by the blonde, but a place where they felt little comfort. Rude sent a
silent glance to his partner, before pressing his hand against the
deteriorating door. A lingering creak stung his ears as the heavy door spread
wide, giving entrance to the tall man. In hesitant steps, Rude began to enter
the church. Thump, thump� his
footsteps echoed through the hollow architecture. Dark eyes discovered the
destruction of pews and columns, flared nostrils sampling the scent of decay.
Behind the reflection of stained glass, a hidden secret. Through the clouds,
the sunlight shone brightly upon a rare bed of flowers, highlighting the
beautiful blooms with warmth. A sight he welcomed in his mind, for it stood to
prove that some beauty had been left in this world.
Yellow
and white, the delicate flowers appeared ethereal amongst the massacre of stone
and timber. From behind the obscurity of dark lenses, his eyes scanned the
small piece of nature, freezing upon a sight that caused the wrenching of his
soul. Lifeless within the stems, laid a woman with whom he found himself
infatuated. Strands of espresso swept across the trampled flowers, her eyes
veiled behind trembling lids and her chest scarcely managing to rise and fall
with feeble breaths. A churning in his stomach pressed a strange sensation
through his spine, and he approached this woman with nonchalance to avoid
alerting his partner to his worry. Reno had already noticed the faint look of
concern that rested on Rude�s dark features. The red head had to fight to keep
from teasing mercilessly, but he found distraction. Beside Tifa, lay Cloud.
�Man,
Rufus will shit himself if we leave Strife like that.� Reno stated the obvious.
Rude
grunted, and hunched down beside the fallen heroes. Deft fingers pressed
against the delicate flesh that covered the location of her jugular, testing
her pulse. The rhythm was uneven, but steady enough to calm his nerves. For
good measure, Rude tested Cloud�s pulse as well, finding a strong beat.
�We should
take them to safety.� Rude spoke monotonously.
�I guess
that means Seventh Heaven.� Reno stooped beside Rude, who nodded in reply.
Without a
word, Rude moved an arm beneath Tifa�s neck, and one beneath the bend of her
knees. She was cradled safely within his strong arms and lifted with swiftness.
With the motion of being swept from the ground, her head fell against his
chest. The sweet fragrance of pink camellias lingered in the air, her scent. A
scent he inhaled hungrily, committing the mesmerizing aroma to memory. Just perfect, pink camellias signify deep
longing for a person. You�ve picked this fragrance, and it suits this moment so
well. Velvet strands tickled his neck, rocking a sensation through his
body. The feeling was absolutely foreign. Composure attempted to flee his form,
but he held steady while watching Reno struggle to lift the heavy blonde onto
his shoulders. The smaller man was none too gentle as he assumed a fire man
carry. Logic would have announced Rude to carry Cloud, as he was larger and
just a little stronger. Desire, however, had other things in mind.
Rude
absently caressed the soft skin behind her knees with his thumb, watching as
she shifted peacefully. Reno�s complaints of Cloud�s weight drowned when Tifa�s
lashes fluttered, revealing the burgundy irises within for a short time. Pastel
lips tempted him with a smile, before her eyes closed again. The smile might have been reflex, he
thought. Perhaps in her daze she saw another�s face hovering above her. She couldn�t possibly be smiling for me.
The trip
from the church to Seventh Heaven was marked by the constant chatter of his
partner, but Rude entertained separate thoughts. When the bar Tifa called home
came into view, he felt a sudden pang of disappointment. Carrying this perfect
woman in his arms gave him a sense of happiness he�d not yet experienced.
Tucking her away into her bed seemed almost repulsive to him, when he found he�d
prefer to hold her throughout the evening.
Opening
the door became a balancing act, shifting Tifa lightly in order to grab the
handle without losing her. Rude managed to slip through the entrance, holding
the door while Reno trudged through beneath Cloud�s limp body. The stairs also
proved difficult to master, with narrow walls and steep heights. With graceful
movement, Rude climbed the length of the stairs, cautious not to bump Tifa�s
feet against the railing as he went. Reno was not as careful, and with a cough,
tried to cover the loud thump Cloud�s head made against the wall as he tipped
sideways. The bedroom was just around the corner, two small twin beds on either
side of a night stand. Rude gently placed Tifa upon one of the beds, while Reno
dumped Cloud into the other.
They
waited for some time that night. When Cloud came to, he was as stubborn and
oblivious as ever, in Rude�s eyes. The brunette adored this boy and yet he
acted as if he hadn�t a clue. He was too busy pitying himself and chasing ghosts.
Tifa stirred shortly after Cloud and her worry for the children struck a chord
with Rude. She was so caring and sweet, nothing like most of the women he knew.
To so deeply love and defend children that are not of your own flesh and blood
is an admirable trait. Rude could not help but feel at ease in her presence,
though he doubted he�d ever have the chance to touch her again. An inexplicable
sorrow tore through his heart while he slipped away from the bar, off to defend
Rufus and reunite with Tseng and Elena. Tifa would probably forget about him
the very next day. At least he had the memory of her hair, her scent and her
smile.
That very memory replayed through his mind as he stood
before Seventh Heaven for a second time. The events of Kadaj and the reunion
had long passed, but the loyal remained in Edge; including the dark haired
martial artist that had impacted him with such depth. Rude was enigmatically
drawn to Tifa�s bar on this dark eve just three short months after his brief
encounter with her. Not one to slip in his discipline, this venture was in the
very least atypical. Reno would have been shouting to the world about his
romantic interest and what it had to do with his current location, had he been
around. Precisely the reason Reno was back watching television with a very
bored Elena. Rude was alone and would draw much less attention as he strode
through the doors, across the bar room to the counter.
At least that�s what he had in mind when he finally
breached the doors. However, the small crowd gathered inside threw quite a
glitch into that plan. Several pairs of eyes landed directly on the towering
man, studying the black suit and sunglasses. If sunglasses in the night weren�t
odd enough, the uniform that reeked of Shin-Ra certainly could have taken
credit for the stares and whispers. Rude paid no mind to the discourteous
patrons as he steadily claimed an empty stool toward the center of the counter.
Pointed elbows hit the counter as he brought his hands to the sides of the
sunglasses, adjusting the frame until it sat more comfortably. A side glance
brought hypnotism as he caught sight of the bar tender. She was wiping down the
opposite end of the counter, humming a discreet tune until her eyes lifted from
the sopping cloth, directing her gaze to the most prominent guest in her
establishment.
The cloth met a timely death, coming to rest in the sink
as she moved toward him with the graceful sway of her hips. The leather tail of
her ensemble danced around her calves, while her fingers worked to brush the
fringe of sable from her view. Pale skin was alight beneath the glow of the
lamp, and he felt much warmer than he did moments earlier. Her journey brought
her to rest before him, elbows propped against the tile while her chin cradled
in her hands.
�Hey there, stranger. Can I get you something?� Her sweet
voice was as cheery as ever, but Rude was left to wonder why she had been so
kind. Two years ago, he stood for everything she despised.
�Whiskey.� A single word, yet so many words begged to be
said. This rocky alliance they�d formed during the past months might explain
the motive behind her current disposition. They had worked hand in hand when
Kadaj blew into town. Well, almost hand in hand. Close enough to say they were
no longer staunch enemies.
�Comin� right up.� She smiled that smile that made him feel
weak, and turned to tend to his drink. A short glass pulled from the cupboards,
an elegant bottle from the back counter. Several shots poured into a single
cup, and set upon the counter at his fingertips.
�Thank you.� The corner of his lip twitched and she
grinned, supposing that was as much of a smile as she�d ever find on his lips.
�So, what brings you here?� She sighed and leaned against
the counter lazily. Things must have been quite slow, though she looked
exhausted.
�The whiskey.� He lied, though she�d never know.
�Best in town.� She displayed a proud face, nose upturned
momentarily. �Enjoy.� She giggled cutely and strayed from the counter,
returning to the chore of cleaning.
Rude brought a sip of whiskey to his parched throat, not
under the impression that the alcohol would much help his thirst. He sat in silence, eyes settled on the liquid within the
parameters of the glass.
Tifa, however, was not concerned with any liquor. Her gaze
drifted to his familiar face with a fondness usually reserved for friends. For
a moment, she wondered why he was so shy. The structure of his face was quite
handsome, and the moderate complexion of his skin reminded her of sweet days in
Costa del Sol. The feathered goatee around his full lips added a masculine
touch to an attractive face. Usually men of his stature were arrogant and
voiced their self-confidence, like Reno. Rude, however, seemed ignorant to the
fact that he was, at the very least, gorgeous.
Tifa served a few more customers, before noticing that the
usual midnight crowd hadn�t wandered in. The bar was unnervingly quiet,
especially for a Saturday night. Try as she might, she simply could not
disguise the boredom that claimed her. With the counter spotless and most of
the dishes already drying neatly on a towel, Tifa had absolutely nothing to do
and three more hours before she could close up for the night. With an
exasperated sigh, she rounded the counter and gathered up a little courage.
Curiosity was a quality she had in abundance, and Rude�s mysterious nature
roused her inquiring mind.
Rude watched as the lithe woman assumed her previous
position on the counter before him. Sooty lashes kept secrets within the
Chianti stained eyes; she was brimming with something he couldn�t put his
finger on. As her lips parted, a preposterous question earned quite the look of
wariness from Rude.
�What colour are your eyes?� Her chin shifted against her
knuckles, a soft smile spreading over her lips.
�Brown.� He answered simply.
�What sort of brown?� She tilted her head lightly, the
length of her hair spilling onto the counter.
�What?� He looked a bit confused with his dark brows
furrowed.
�Dark brown, light brown, hazel brown� orange brown�?� She
resisted the giggles that bubbled up.
�I have no idea.� The urge to crack a dry grin became too
strong. All of this feminine questioning left him with the faintest hint of a
grin.
�May I?� The inquiry left him absolutely unsettled. Her
fingers were suspended in the air on either side of his temples, and figuring
out what she wanted was an easy task.
Though he felt his nerves in every inch of his body, he
nodded permission. The tips of her fingers brushed his skin as she took the
frame of the sunglasses in her fingers. The thin sides tickled from behind his
ears as the material slipped over his ears and away from his face. He resisted
the urge to shudder from all the feather light sensations. A few necessary
blinks came as the fluorescent light penetrated, he hadn�t realized just how adjusted
his eyes had become to the dim light allowed through the shades. Rude saw Tifa
fully illuminated beneath the harsh light, her skin even more beautiful without
the obstruction over his eyes. Her feminine lips curved the most stunning smile
he�d seen in his existence, pearled teeth bared as she took in his eyes for the
first time. His pupils nearly blended with the deep brown of his irises, giving
his eyes a quality that seemed to swallow her whole. There were pale freckles
of mossy green near the deep black of his pupils, a most peculiar attribute.
The specks of colour added a mystique to his eyes, making them far more
intriguing than she ever could have guessed. A girl could get lost in eyes like that.
�You have very nice eyes.� She spoke softly, not quite able
to contain the smile that remained on her lips.
�Thanks.� Rude grunted. The eye contact became intense
without the obstruction of his sunglasses, seeming much more intimate than when
his eyes were hidden.
�You should take these off more often.� Tifa felt the urge
to fold the glasses up and toss them away, not wanting him to hide his eyes.
Instead, she simply returned the item and watched while he slid the frame to
the bridge of his nose. �I�m so bored.� She huffed and a strand of hair danced
in the air.
�Slow night?� He took a sip of the remaining liquor.
�Extremely slow. I�ve never seen it this way on a
Saturday.� She nodded, agreeing with her statement. Rude didn�t respond, aside
from the slight dip of his own head. Come
to think of it� he really doesn�t ever have much to say. I kind of like that.
He expresses what�s necessary in small, simple words. No long, drawn out
explanations with irrelevant information, just the facts. It�s nice. Tifa
redirected her attention to the dwindling crowd, a few more patrons heading
toward the door.
The task of cleaning the remaining dishes and tables took
but an hour of her time and by the time she finished all of the chores, only
two remained in the bar. Rude, and herself. There was still an hour and a half
until she could climb the stairs and go to bed, unless she decided to close
early. However, there was an intriguing opportunity sitting at the counter with
a refilled glass of whiskey. Tifa really couldn�t explain why she felt the
sudden desire to converse with an old enemy. Perhaps it was the challenge to
see what he would actually say, or perhaps it was because she found such peace
in listening to his voice whenever he actually decided to share it.
�So, where is Reno?� Tifa asked nonchalantly.
�With Elena.� He was surprised she was still trying to make
conversation, even though he felt so comfortable talking to her.
�Are they� together?� She made a funny face, due to the
fact that she couldn�t see Reno actually committing to anyone.
�I think so. They�d never admit it, too busy bickering.�
Another sip of whiskey found its way though his lips.
�They seem like an unlikely couple, that�s for sure.� Tifa
laughed girlishly.
�Yeah.� Rude agreed. He polished off the last of the
whiskey, setting the empty glass on the counter. The need to stay and chat all
night surprised him, but he ignored the push. �I should let you close up. Sorry
for hanging around so long.�
�I was enjoying your company, Rude. It�s not a problem at
all.� Tifa had been lonelier than ever as of late. Cloud was off doing whatever
it was he did, leaving her with Denzel and Marlene. The children were sweet,
but not the sort of company that could fill the hole in her heart.
�Really?� Rude cocked an eyebrow, astonished by her
confession.
�Yep. Everyone else is off doing whatever they do; I really
get lonely around here. And� can I tell you a secret?� She paused to smile a
moment, �I appreciate that you only say what�s important. You don�t waste
words.�
He felt flattered by the compliment, and watched as she
moved over toward the back counter to grab the whiskey. The empty glass was
again refilled, and she gave a warm smile. �This one�s on the house, for being
such good company.� She said, turning to grab a fluted glass from the cabinet
while setting down the whiskey bottle and trading it for a tall dark bottle
from a silver canister. The dark red wine spilled into the glass as she tipped
the bottle, a half glass poured before she returned the bottle to its spot.
�Thanks.� He nodded regards.
�Sure.� She sipped the wine, relaxing as the chilled liquid
spilled into her mouth. A short swallow, before she began with another inquiry.
�Tell me something important, would you?� Another oddity, but she yearned to
hear something that mattered, rather than the constant banter from her usual
customers.
�Something important?� He felt frozen, adrift in time as he
tried to think of something suiting. A thought or two ran through his mind, and
with a churning stomach and tingling nerves, he told her something important.
�You are amazing.�
What was
that? Amazing� Was that the whiskey, or am I totally hearing things? Tifa�s
mind stuttered, her eyes wide while she took in the precise sentence. An
unwelcome, but faint warmth flooded her cheeks, flushing them a sweet pink. She
couldn�t help but smile as if it were going out of style. This very
unanticipated, but wonderful compliment simply turned her knees to mush. Say something, Tifa! Don�t just stare. She fidgeted with her
hair. �Thank you� I�m not sure why you think that, but thank you.� Oh great, way to sound self-conscious.
�It�s the truth, Tifa.� Not a hint of an expression in his
face, but she was sure his eyes would tell her a story. She squinted, as if
doing so would provide her a view of his eyes behind the sunglasses. No such
luck. Her actions were quite easy for Rude to read, and he laughed inwardly.
They took sips from their drinks in unison, which caused Tifa to laugh a
little.
�If you say so. You�re not so bad yourself, you know?� Her
right shoulder rose, sending several strands of her long hair cascading
backward. The insinuation in her movement was obvious, though he knew she
didn�t intend for it to look the way it did. He was forever cursed with the
insightfulness of a Turk. A skill that let him read body language almost as if
he could read minds. A blessing and a burden all in the same.
Tifa, on the other hand, was busy pondering the words that
just left her lips. Here sat a man who belonged to an organization that used to
make her blood boil. Everything that he was happened to be everything she
thought she hated. They had met in battle many times� but wait a minute. A revelation dawned on her like light breaking
through storm clouds. Every time they�d been engaged, he never attacked her,
not once. Why? Tifa found herself in
a wave of confusion. Even still, they were opposites in every sense of the
word. Or are we? She shrugged the
thoughts away, he�d been an ally on the latest front and for that, she was
grateful. Every person deserved a chance at redemption.
�Thanks.� Rude�s reply burst through her ears, a little
delayed. The third time tonight he�d replied to something with only �thanks�.
He really did have a knack for saying only what mattered, and apparently the
fact that she was �amazing� mattered.
Tifa simply finished her wine and swept up Rude�s empty glass, placing both of
the dirty glasses in the stainless steel sink.
In a moment of silence, their eyes met, or so Tifa
thought. A feeling of peace washed over her pounding heart as it crashed in her
ears, but she busied herself with removing a few more glasses from the counter.
It wasn�t until Rude�s stool scraped across the floor that she realized he�d
even stood. She glanced up at him, watching as he tipped his sunglasses.
�Goodnight, Tifa. Until next time.� He said.
Rude pivoted and with slow steps, approached the door.
Tifa managed a muffled goodnight as his hand met the handle of the door, but
she couldn�t muster the courage to ask him just what next time meant. With a creak of the old door, Rude disappeared
into the night and Tifa stood for a while. She was digesting this strange
encounter, and her abundant curiosity seemed to be gnawing at her mind while
she repeated the words next time in
her head. What an odd night. Tifa set
to the task of cleaning the bar, before flicking off the open sign and heading
up to bed. Perhaps sleep would put the situation at ease.
Rude walked the silent streets alone, feeling positively
marvelous. The woman he�d been drawn to for the past three years had smiled at
him and complimented him while serving him whiskey. They�d shared a small
conversation on a slow Saturday night, and he felt compelled to learn more
about Tifa. Although, the task would not be quite as simple as it seemed. Aside
from the feelings of happiness, Rude held doubt in the palm of his hand. He
knew Tifa to be polite and cheerful in the face of many things, perhaps she was
only outwardly kind to him. There would only be one way to find out.

------------------
My humble attempt at Rude and Tifa :D I hope it turned out
all right, I haven't ever written Rude before and I find him to be one of the
more difficult characters to write correctly. I wanted it to be a little on the
sappy side, almost happy, although I feel it might be a little different. I
played with the idea that Rude has liked Tifa for quite some time, which
explains some of the thoughts and feelings he has. Sooo, review if you would
like. I appreciate feedback and perhaps it will help me decide where to go
next. Thank you very much for reading!
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Whiskey and Wine